Penn State is starting a fraternity and sorority research center named in memory of student Timothy Piazza, who died in February 2017 after a night of hazing at a fraternity.
Penn State said it is giving at least $2 million toward the multidisciplinary research center. It is pledging an additional $3 million in matching money as part of a fundraising campaign for an endowment of at least $8 million dollars.
The center will focus on best practices for Greek life. To do that, the university said it will build on work by the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research. That center is currently housed at Indiana University Bloomington and will be moving to Penn State.
Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims will be meeting with student affairs leaders from across the country in Ohio at the end of January. According to the university, he hopes to get support for initiatives, including a national fraternity and sorority scorecard, like the one Penn State developed.
In a news release, Piazza's father, Jim Piazza said the family is "pleased that Penn State is taking the lead in Greek-life reforms and cultural change with the creation of the Piazza Center as we approach the two-year anniversary of the death of our son Tim, as a result of the reckless and irresponsible behavior of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity."
